Two area First Nations artists are finding connection and reconciliation through a Telus art project.
Michaela Gilbert, a member of Williams Lake First Nation, and Barbara Derrick, a member of Xeni Gwet含羞草研究社檌n, are both artists from the Cariboo who were selected by Telus to help create art for the company.
When Telus sought out First Nations artists, both women were chosen to collaborate and began working together in June of 2022. Telus provided them the theme of 含羞草研究社渃onnectivity,含羞草研究社� some parameters in terms of the colour scheme and using animals, then let them create.
含羞草研究社淢ichaela and I were so good together,含羞草研究社� said Derrick, of working with her fellow artist.
Derrick, is an art educator and professional artist who lives in Edmonton but is originally from Quesnel. She said her work was inspired by all the wonderful things happening in the Tsilhqot含羞草研究社檌n (Chilcotin), as her mother was Xeni Gwet含羞草研究社檌n. She drew on her clan animal, the bear, and the connection to the land through food, creating a beautiful stylized bear holding a salmon in its mouth. She calls it Walking in Power 含羞草研究社� Lessons from the Grandmothers.
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Gilbert, who is 2o and in her third year at the University of Victoria in the Fine Arts Program, said she drew on the idea of reconnecting to culture through the land and the use of personified animal characters in cultural storytelling. She was inspired by the traditional story of How the Raven Stole the Sun and her final design is titled Qwl茅wem or To Pick Berries. She painted two ravens picking Saskatoon berries in a birch basket.
While Derrick already had an idea of what she might do, Gilbert said she herself bounced some ideas off of Derrick to help come up with her artwork for the project.
含羞草研究社淪he was a big support for me,含羞草研究社� said Gilbert, of how the elder artist and educator facilitated her in her process.
Derrick said this project is especially exciting because she said it makes it feel like First Nations artists are being recognized for their work.
含羞草研究社淥pportunities like that, we would not have ever dreamed of before,含羞草研究社� she noted.
Gilbert said she is 含羞草研究社渢hrilled to have my work being shared with the community, as I含羞草研究社檓 dedicated to my artwork and I含羞草研究社檓 proud of the completed project.含羞草研究社�
As an artist, Gilbert said one of her goals is to 含羞草研究社渃reate modern representation of Indigenous people to encourage the embrace of culture in tandem with individuals being in the contemporary world.含羞草研究社�
The two artworks come together beautifully in the final piece, combining vibrant animals connected to the land through local food. Look for the mural on the Telus building on Second Avenue in Williams Lake and on the sides of Telus vehicles across the Cariboo-Chilcotin.
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